Ch93: The Harvest Devil's Heart

Author's note: This is a trigger warning that this chapter may contain certain elements overly disturbing to the psyche as tagged.

Jory would awaken to discover that Rein had ridden off westward back into the wilderness.

She only inwardly sighed, internally bemoaning what she viewed as something akin to destiny. Her thoughts lingered on what she had always known.

The head priestess--the elder of the twin-- of every generation always picked the mate for the twin sisters. 

The elder sister was to contribute a few descendants with unique traits to support the war effort, depending on how long they survived before succumbing to a false vision. The younger would give birth to the next generation of twin priestesses, and pass on the critical tradition and vital teachings.

As for the world from which they came from? There only exists one society in that small realm-- theirs!

This small realm of theirs traveled through a sea of chaos, a speck of dust difficult to spot, but always hunted.

Every once in a while, their small world would come too close to a developed realm, and any forces they might have formed over the years would perish in defense. Not to win. Rather, to delay the enemy until their small world broke away from the draw of the developed realm.

It was only through special methods that Jory and Suey arrived at the Fusion Realm. Methods only available to the temple and the throne.

As for her elder twin sister… Jory felt a deep sorrow. Every head priestess would run off pursuing some false vision, their skull filled to the brim with madness. As for the mate she had found? He would pursue the head priestess in madness as well, to their deaths. And so the tale ends. Generation after generation.

As for Rein-- Jory felt only a tinge of sadness. Though she held no negative feelings towards him, she also did not hold much positivity either. Still, he is the father of the twin daughters forming within her womb.

She had been taught from birth that it was her elder twin sister who would make the selection. At least, it was a man that had given her a decent degree of pleasure.

As for his treatment of her elder twin sister? She did not necessarily see it as distasteful. Jory had grown up with her elder sister. In her eyes, this elder sister of hers was always overly reckless and undeserving of her position. Deep down, a part of her even thought that Rein was right to 'discipline' her elder sister.

She once thought that she would be--and should have been-- the better primary head priestess. Her thoughts and desires soon faded once she learned of the fates of all the previous primary head priestesses.

All this might suggest that Jory disliked Suey. That couldn't be further from the truth. Jory shared a deep bond with her elder twin sister. It was simply that…there were bound to be certain disagreeable factors between the two, having been born into their supposed roles.

Jory sighed. No matter. Her task was done. She had employed her inborn seductive arts to ensure the Rein would not get cold feet at the critical moment. Or become distracted by the situation of the elder twin sister prior to the deal being sealed.

She resolved to find an opportunity to return to her small realm and continue her duty as was taught to her beginning with her birth. Her people must continue. To survive another generation.

-

Xeeseir gazed westward atop the ramparts. He was aware of Rein's origin ability. He had seen Rein teleport that 'Javelin of Heaven' to pierce the chest of that careless outer-ranked Convergence Sect elder.

Though his heart desired to provide more assistance, he also believed that he would be more of a burden with his skillset, for this particular situation.

That was not all. His recent experience of being but a defensive tool under Harvest Devil Ailehr's hand caused him to have an odd feeling. The feeling of the walls closing in around him. He had won the psychedelic on entry to the Hall of Heroes. He had failed to raise his strength with said psychedelic.

He couldn't shake a certain sensation. The sensation of his limbs being bound by the very air surrounding his body.

Doubt gnawed at his mind, as his memories of all the choices he had made throughout his life returned to the forefront.

______________________________________________________________________________

Back in the Western Wilderness, Rein soon abandoned the horse and sent it back towards the central outpost.

He only used the horse to travel a certain distance, such that he could begin employing his origin ability without eyes on his back.

He apologized to Master Yirn in his heart for making use of his origin skill so quickly, breaking the promise to not rely on said ability. Though the man only considered him a half-disciple, that man did provide him with sanctuary and training at a critical moment of his journey.

It was only at this moment that the effects of Jory's seductive arts began to wear off, and Rein's mental state returned to the norm.

Rein was naturally… perturbed, to say the least. His deceased mother was right after all, to 'train' him. Indeed, he always ensured that Suey would drink her vial of protection. Jory's seductive art had certainly pushed him past a line that he thought he would never dare cross.

As for how he now felt-- Rein was not at all sure. The reason for this was that he had interacted with the northern desert tribes a number of times in the past, and learned of their different ways of life. Additionally, he had heard tales from the gossiping wives of many merchant families, discussing the many practices adopted by certain religious groups.

To put it simply, Rein was aware of the existence of many odd practices in different areas of the Fusion Realm. He had no doubt that practices even more outlandish might exist in other realms.

That is to say-- although he might not know of the complete circumstances behind the odd tradition carried by Suey and Jory-- he did not find it that bizarre compared to some of the other ones he had heard of.

Many of these practices do, in fact, have some intended and unintended magical effect. Ancient ritualistic arts, so the scholars classify them as.

Rein could only sigh as he focused his thoughts. A day ago, his mind might be trapped by anger after such a realization of Jory's purpose in using seductive arts on him. Now? His somewhat elevated mind moved past these bumps easily.

What's done is done. Jory did not demonstrate any maliciousness towards him after all. His mind and body should be focused on preparing himself for the immediate delicate task of finding Suey.

He first activated the 'Shifting Mask' to change his appearance to a fisherman he had seen in the Green Trout City. He adjusted the Shifting Mask to darken, creating the effect of a shadow obscuring the appearance of this fisherman's features.

Then he activated his 'Aurae-restraint' skill, to minimize the potential of him attracting unnecessary eyes.

Unfortunately, he was no illusionist like Master Yirn, and this was the best he could do to disguise himself. The 'Shifting Mask' would not fool stronger advancers, unless supported by physical props.

He then activated the 'Sole Cauldron' Art, allowing him to sense the direction of Suey. Truly an art with unique ancient roots. Surprisingly, the art pointed to somewhere in the North-northwest. Rein had thought that Ailehr's lair might be deep into the Endless Mountains to the Northwest. It seems that her lair was, in fact, east of the beginning of those mountain ranges.

Initially, Rein was concerned that he might crash head on into a demon beast wave. With this direction, it should be rather unlikely. As far as he knew, the demon beast waves' target was the Xuere gap, and should not extend northward by much.

His hands formed a circle as a blackish-purple sphere formed. A soft sizzle sounded and Rein teleported, a shadow flashing North-northwest, at an impossible pace.

______________________________________________________________________________

The Harvest Devil Ailehr had long returned to her lair.

The Harvest Devil Sect was, of course, built by her. Gathering numbers wasn't particularly difficult-- once she gained some might and notoriety, many weaker souls abandoned to the Western Wilderness flocked to join her.

As for the sect's appearance and location? An ancient battlefield.

The area once had a huge battle between powerful advancers, taking the lives of millions of souls, leaving behind a deathly blood-soaked land inhabited by the remnant unyielding ghosts still holding onto their frail existences.

That battle was ended by the power of a godly figure, who's palm, the size of a few thousand feet, collided against the ground from the heavens, forming a deep hand-shaped indentation in the earth.

The blood of millions of advancers on the battlefield flowed into said hand-shaped indentation, creating a collection of vile aurae alongside the remnant ghostly wills of those filled with regret.

Centuries ago, Ailehr had come to this place, seeking opportunity after being expelled to this god-forsaken zone. Many had told her that she was a reckless fool, but desperation caused her to take such action.

She was fortunate, for she encountered a ghost willing to impart to her a unique set of ghostly arts, capable of sucking out the very lifeforce of her victims. Of course, it was not free-- a deal needed to be made.

As for the details on said deal, only Ailehr would know.

She then settled down within the plummeting indentation caused by the godly palm, for she discovered the vile energies within the blood seeped into the area, and was rather effective for her in learning her newly obtained devilish art.

So began the Harvest Devil Sect.

Since then, those that had gathered to her built living quarters against the cliff walls of the sunken palm. Certain extraction units were built to gather and allow the vile blood energies trapped in the surrounding earth to flow and form fountains, providing a foul aurae for the members to absorb.

In time, a structure of power was formed. They were by no means orderly, and the members of the Harvest Devil Sect had little trust in one another. Most joined out of necessity or self-preservation.

Of course, they needed to demonstrate some level of contribution to continue to remain here under Ailehr's protective umbrella. An umbrella now about to shatter into a thousand pieces.

Ailehr had long foreseen such a delicate situation. There was never much certainty in the world of advancers. Especially in the case of devil advancers.

She had made ample preparations. Her mastery of the unique ghostly arts had given her a slight head start in terms of soul powers, and she had used this talent to form a circle of mindless devotees.

These mindless devotees surrounded her now, within a stone cavern dug into the side of the palm's cliffs.

However, Ailehr was not the center of attention. It was Suey's immobilized body that had everyone's attention.

She had been thrown out of Ailehr's portable prison space, stripped nude before being bound by four manacles, each attached to one of her limbs. The black chains attached to each manacle were then pulled taut through a number of contraptions, and thus her body now formed an X midair.

Suey turned her head sideways, her cheeks red in humiliation, further accentuating her vulnerable position.

She had certainly been exposed to a crowd before, but she had been in Rein's presence. Though others might not know, her visions of the future was the source of her heightened trust in Rein. Well, some might argue that visions of the future weren't always accurate…

This was not the most humiliating aspect of her current situation though.

Her heart was more burdened by the betrayal of her body. The flower between her long and slim legs was positively leaking.

She wanted to blame Rein for inserting a sensitivity art into the 'Sole Cauldron' Art engraved around her abdominal and upper thigh area, but deep down, she knew the truth.

In the past, she had spared no efforts to peer into all possible futures, and nearly all of those futures had ended up with her home destroyed, and her enslaved, becoming nothing but a pleasure toy passed among the upper echelons of the advancer world.

Despite it being a vision, and not reality, her mind had still 'experienced' those visions. The mind was, of course, linked to the body. Thus, her body had already begun to prepare itself, perhaps a protection mechanism or memory reflex of sorts. A betrayal.

No-- Suey voiced to herself staunchly within her mind. This was completely Rein's responsibility. She forcefully repeated these words to herself, and felt somewhat… better for it.

Before her stood many women and men. Many of those men gazed at her with their crotches bulging in heat.

These devotees had already been informed that Suey would be the new body for Ailehr. As such, they saw Suey in some way as the mistress they were enamored with. A twisted circumstance.

"Begin the examination. Nothing can go amiss," Ailehr announced.

A woman in black robes walked forth, flipped back the hood to reveal a pretty round face with soft brown eyes, a delicate nose, full lips, and silky hair that flowed to unknown lengths within her robes. She sank to her knees and pressed her forehead to the maroon stone ground before Ailehr, then rose back to her feet.

"As you command, Mistress," Enhr obediently said.

What a pitiful woman, Ailehr recalled. This woman named Enhr had been framed, and was now hunted by a sect within the Minhr nation after endlessly rejecting the advances of a man considered a key talent by said sect's hierarchy.

She wasn't much of a devil, but she must become one if she desires to survive. Ailehr had chosen to offer her some protection for now, and guide her upon the path of the devil, due to Enhr's unique talents.

Enhr had studied many arts that linked two or more together. Such as the 'Sole Cauldron' Art.

She first lit a number of additional candles to brighten the interior. The light from the candles reflected off the maroon stone-- originally black stone now turned red by the blood of a million advancers. This soft red glow casted an erotic glow on Suey's olive-skinned body.

Enhr approached the bound and vulnerable Suey, formed a claw hand and gently placed the fingertips of her five digits on Suey's right calf.

She brushed her fingertips up Suey's unblemished slender leg.

"What lovely skin," She whispered as she turned her gaze to observe Suey's facial expression. Indeed, if not for that jagged scar upon Suey's right cheek, she would be the typical traditional slim-bodied jade beauty.

As she closely observed Suey's expression, Enhr noticed that the woman had bitten down on her full lips to hold back a moan. Enhr was filled with deviousness, an aspect of herself that she had gained after being framed by her previous sect, and further cultivated with the guidance of Ailehr.

Enhr could not resist now running the tips of the fingers of both hands on Suey's two lengthy legs.

Suey began to squirm helplessly in her bonds until her body twitched in release after the relentless teasing of Enhr's fingertips across her inner thighs.

Enhr giggled in amusement at Suey's responsive body. Inwardly, she considered the possibility of using some minx like Suey to entrap the man who had caused her such grief.

She turned to see the male devotees helplessly adjusting their crotches.

If one thought her own experience might make this sight uncomfortable for her, they would be wrong.

"Does it excite you men?" She simpered with a smirk, "That before your death, you might have your mistress squirming underneath your weight in this responsive body?"

These male devotees were to sacrifice their life energies, allowing Ailehr to quickly recover her previous strength after the supposed possession. Their minds though, had been altered, and thus was thoroughly enthralled by their planned demise.

"Enough. Tell me of her condition," Ailehr herself was also entertained by this show, but she wished to know of complications that might arise if she were to possess Suey's body. It would be foolish to fully trust Suey's offer.

Enhr nodded and proceeded to run her hands all over Suey's body, intentionally kneading different parts of her body, especially her full and perky breasts, as well as flicking the tips. Suey humiliatingly moaned as her sensitive body experienced a number of peaks.

Enhr then muttered words under her breath, and her hand was coated in a powder blue misty aurae.

She brushed her hand across Suey's abdomen, and the whole inscribed 'Sole Cauldron' Art appeared over Suey's skin.

Enhr began to examine the inscription.

In time, she turned back towards Ailehr and bowed with the fingers of her two hands hooked together respectfully.

"Mistress. Her body has been tempered by some water art, giving her flesh softness and flexibility that can dissipate much force."

That, Ailehr did not know. However, this was a boon-- ever since facing the six-armed form of Bienze, she had felt that putting in the extra effort for some type of body-tempering art might be worth it after all. Though she did not know of which art Suey practiced, switching to another water-based body tempering art should be a smooth transition.

"As for the enslavement art-- this is the infamous 'Sole Cauldron' Art as you are most definitely aware of. It is of the telekinetic level, making it impossible for us to forcibly break it. Within this 'Sole Cauldron' Art is the additional supplementary art that allows the master to increase the sensitivity of the sub."

"Nothing more? Or suspicious?" Ailehr frowned as she asked.

"I sense some ancient ritualistic magic, but it is nothing but a lingering effect."

"Then all that's left is to break the lock of said 'Sole Cauldron' Art, yes?" Ailehr understood quite a number of aspects regarding these sorts of magical arts.

"Since the method of force cannot be employed, we can only attempt to imitate the lock. Else, after possessing her body, you would find yourself under the man that is her current master, even if your soul has changed," Enhr explained.

"Begin," Ailehr nodded. She knew much of this before, but needed to confirm the facts from one specialized in such magic.

She thought that breaking the lock shouldn't be too difficult. Elements of unique quality are rather rare, after all. It was only later that she discovered how wrong she was.

As for now, Enhr flicked a sleeve to motion for those of the correct attributes to approach.

"Those of some level of mastery over wood, lightning or spatial elements step forth. You will be adjusting your output levels, cooperating with one another to combine and create levels of elemental affinity, such that we break the lock on this 'Sole Cauldron' Art," she ordered.

A number of both female and male devotees stepped forth, their hands raised with a finger encased in a partial aurae shell.

Enhr strode behind Suey and placed her hands over Suey's abdominal region, intending to sense the progress and give instructions to the other devotees.

The devotees stepped forth to place their aurae-encased fingers around Suey's pelvic region, as well as to insert into Suey's defenseless opening.

Her body having already betrayed her, Suey could only inwardly blame Rein for her responsive body, while simultaneously reassuring herself that Rein would not fault her for having such a body. No-- he would simply enjoy such a show before proceeding to punish her after. She would be fine, so she told herself.

Meanwhile, Ailehr had moved on to another important task while her devotees attempted to break the lock of the 'Sole Cauldron' Art engraved into Suey's body.

This task, was of course, her cooperation with the Second Prince of the Minhr Nation. The object of her task? Lyne.

She strode out through the doorway of Suey's prison, guarded by two devotees in frayed black robes, before entering another prison cave close by, similarly guarded by two devotees.

The areas she traveled through were also filled with the red glow of candlelight reflecting off the blood-seeped stone that filled the Harvest Devil Sect.

Before her eyes was the ethereal appearance of Lyne, similarly bound just like Suey.

Lyne's long hair was originally half silvery-white, half black. However, her recent exertions during the incident that is the dwarven ancient ruins had turned her hair a complete snow white.

The Xuere scion's porcelain skin originally appeared overly pale upon her initial capture, but soon recovered a slight warmth after her icy arts had been sealed.

Ailehr observed the noblewoman's body. Lyne certainly has a more fit and trim body with a wider set of hips that provided the woman with more stable footing to wield her icy sword arts.

Well. With the exception of her ample breasts which could only be described as fattier with more width that slightly swayed from gravity. A contrast to her incredibly toned abdominals below.

Ailehr was, of course, still weighing the possibility of possessing Lyne's body and reentering the Minhr Nation. Yet, she could not deny that the advancer icy sword arts that Lyne possessed within her body was of questionable value to herself.

Finally, Ailehr snorted to dispel Lyne's worth as a possessed body. She was filled with a sort of derision at what she saw as this noble scion's naivety. The pointless pride in her station as the Xuere scion.

Lyne's eyes were naturally filled with fear as she observed Ailehr's approach.

Ailehr walked to the side of this crimson-lighted stony prison, and reached within a trunk, withdrawing a black whip.

Ailehr chose Suey as her possession candidate. Not Lyne. As such, Ailehr now has no qualms with enacting some pain upon the Xuere scion-- especially with the urging of the Second Prince.

The Second Prince had simply urged her not to break the woman. He desired to be the one to deal the final blow, so he said.

"Xuere Lyne," Ailehr sneered as she swung her right arm a few times to adjust to the black whip. "There is no such thing as a happy end for any of us. You should have accepted the Second Prince's offer long before this day."

"It's… it's the Second Prince?!" Lyne fiercely breathed.

Her livid expression soon weakened as Ailehr swung the black whip, a number of inscriptions lighting up to augment the whip, creating a short woop through the air.

A smacking noise echoed within the prison cell as the whip struck Lyne's flat and sculpted abdomen.

The Xuere scion was able to hold back a scream, which only caused Ailehr to become even more determined.

"Centuries ago…" Ailehr continued as she flexed her arm in preparation again. "I, too, contended for the throne for my beloved son."

"He was a noble soul. Of integrity. A boundless love and desire to improve the lives of those of the Minhr Nation."

"He was murdered," Ailehr swung upwards with her black whip venomously.

Lyne could not hold back a scream as the whip sent an immeasurable pain through her loins when she was struck between her legs.

As the pain throbbed through her body, her mind strove to comprehend this new information. Centuries ago… that must be the previous conflict for the throne. Ailehr must be one of the queens from a long past era.

"A vicious betrayal!" Ailehr growled. "My son was, at the time, allied with the current king against the other princes of those times. My son was willing to step aside, as long as certain reforms to the nation were guaranteed. Instead, he was killed."

"I finally realized. That in this world. Only power and viciousness matters! What you--can-- do!"

The black whip was swung again, and this time, Lyne's breasts jiggled as they were struck, accompanied by a distraught yelp.

Ailehr gazed at the bound Lyne. The Xuere scion irked her heart. Lyne had a reputation for upholding the noble cause of defending against the Western Wilderness, hunting demons and devils like some kind of heroine of the Minhr Nation.

Ailehr wished her son had been 'wiser', and hated that both he and herself had been a fool in the past. Just like the Xuere scion squirming before her.

In Ailehr's eyes, Lyne should come to the reality that ultimately, she was just another piece to be used and put to the side in the current conflict between the princes. Of course, Ailehr's motivation wasn't simply that, twisted though her mind had become.

"Luckily, my son had descendents hidden away, and in time, they reappeared, proven to be of the noble Dingien Clan from the trace amounts of stolen dragon blood detected within their veins."

"You-- WILL-- guarantee the Second Prince's ascension," she declared. She then began a frenzied whipping of the ethereal white glowing form of Lyne.

Lyne soon stopped screaming, out of breath from the repeated whippings of her body, as the pain continued to radiate through her beaten flesh.

More humiliating though, was the beginnings of twinges of pleasure mixed in with the pain whenever said whip struck her breasts. A detail that Ailehr unfortunately soon noticed with Lyne's pink areolas hard as diamonds.

Ailehr began to laugh, her shrill cackle rising, needles piercing Lyne's weakening heart.

The devil placed down her black whip, and sauntered towards the bound Lyne, an evil grin on her face.

"No, no…" Lyne begged. "Please, I--"

Her voice was caught as Ailehrs thumbs and fingers pinched her teats tightly, before twisting and turning in a repeated assault.

A final hard yank and tears rolled down Lyne's cheeks as she could only scream with honey flowing forth from between her thighs.

Her ordeal, however, was not over.

Ailehr, the Harvest Devil, hellbent on ensuring that the Second Prince, a descendent of her son, would gain the political alliance to guarantee his victory, proceeded to further push Lyne's mind to the brink.

She disappeared behind the slumped Lyne's sight, who's ethereal glow had long been extinguished, her body layered with red welts.

Ailehr appeared before Lyne with a thick needle, a foreboding smile upon her face-- a face that would occupy Lyne's nightmares.

The contraption immobilizing Lyne was adjusted, and now Lyne's gaze faced the ground, her tits swaying downward. Lyne bent her head back in a struggle to keep Ailehr in her sight.

"Just a gift for the Second Prince, I think," Ailehr softly said as she pulled back her own robes to reveal her own pierced nipples, a simple rod with two secured ends in the gaps. "Yours, however, will be large and beautiful rings. For the second prince to pull on as he so desires."

Another two screams would soon sound within the crimson prison, followed by the sobbings of a woman.